Hundreds of thousands of people across Ontario are expected to participate in the 29th annual Terry Fox Run on Sept. 13. In 2008, Ontarians donated $11.5 million to cancer research through participating in Terry Fox events.
In the early days of the Marathon of Hope in 1980, Terry was an unknown runner, and raising money was tough, a Terry Fox Foundation press release stated. Almost 30 years later, Canadians face their own fundraising challenges with an economy that has been battered.
But what matters most today, what compelled Terry to finish that 26th mile every day, is the knowledge that nothing is tougher to deal with than a diagnosis of cancer, news that more than 455 Canadians receive every day, the release continued.
New Terry Fox organizer Leah McArthur of Wallaceburg explained why the run is still relevant to so many people today.
“The run is indeed more than just a fundraiser —it is a community builder... there is a complete cross-section of our community demographic.”
Sudbury will be hosting its own Terry Fox Run Sept. 13 at Bell Park. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the gazebo at the main beach, with the run set to begin at 10:30 a.m.
There is no entry fee or minimum pledge to participate in the run, participants are asked to contribute what they can.
For more information, phone Frances or Bill Summerhill at 522-4987.
